USAirways wants lower airport costs in Pittsburgh as a condition of maintaining their flight presence. Since the airport authority is debt-laden, and debt servicing is a substantial cost that is passed along to airlines servicing the area, USAirways suggests raising taxes to pay down debt.

US Airways has asked state and county leaders and the airport authority to consider raising state sales, car rental, and hotel taxes to raise $31 million a year to pay down debt, a proposal Gov. Ed Rendell and county Chief Executive Jim Roddey have rejected. However, Rendell has said he would consider using a portion of potential revenue from slots gambling, assuming it is legalized in Pennsylvania, to help pay down the debt.